Palombières

Les palombières dans les arbres

A visual document of palombe-hunting territory in the Pyrenees region of France, situated in the heart of Basque Country.

In the fall season, palombes, or wood pigeons (Columbus polumbus), make their annual migratory route from the Nordic countries to the Iberian Peninsula. As they pass through the forests of southwest France, chasseurs, or hunters, gather in traditional hunting installations called palombières. These installations are diverse and vary by locale, ranging from small camouflaged cabins built on top of hardwood trees to rings of nets cast among trees which are then raised on pulleys.

The palombiere setups I encountered were like found art installations in the forest. These photos capture my fascination with their mysterious, earthly, and quiet qualities.